Camden Catholic Sweeps Quad, Goes 3–0 Against Ranked Opponents

photo & coverage by: Marco Morales

Camden Catholic walked into Pope John knowing exactly what awaited them — a quad featuring four programs all ranked inside the state’s Top 20, each bringing a lineup capable of testing even the most seasoned teams. By the end of the day, the Irish had answered every question, leaving with a clean 3–0 sweep and one of the most impressive team performances of the early season.

The Irish opened the day with a 39–26 win over Paramus Catholic, setting the tone with consistency throughout the lineup. From there, Camden Catholic raised the level even higher, knocking off Don Bosco Prep 43–24 in a dual that featured multiple ranked matchups and swing bouts that could have gone either way. They closed the quad by overpowering the host Pope John 52–20, leaving no doubt about which team owned the mat that afternoon.

The marquee bout of the day came in a tightly contested matchup between Sammy Spaulding and Nicky Palitto, a chess match from start to finish. With every point at a premium, Spaulding leaned on experience and composure, grinding out a 4–2 victory over the familiar opponent. The returning state champion never forced the action, instead trusting his positioning and defense to control the match when it mattered most.

Beyond the headliner, Camden Catholic’s depth stood out. Freshman Stephen Bagocius continued his strong start to the season, going 3–0 and showing poise well beyond his years. Michael Craft, a returning state finalist, also went 3–0, anchoring the lineup with steady performances and providing the kind of reliability championship teams depend on. From top to bottom, the Irish found production, turning close moments into separation points across all three duals.

After the quad, Spaulding pointed to the culture inside the room as the driving force behind performances like this.

“It’s the same thing every day. We push each other in the room and work on the problems we have in matches and fix our mistakes,” Spaulding said. “We’re very close in school, wrestling, and outside of it as friends, even like family, so it makes it easier.”

For Spaulding, the match with Palitto was also part of a bigger picture.

“This weekend I had a really tough and familiar opponent, and it was nice to get back out there and compete with another high-level guy,” he said. “Preparation to repeat a state title is the same thing it’s always been — trying to become the best version of myself on and off the mat and staying focused on what I can control.”

He also made it clear where his foundation comes from.

“I wouldn’t have any of the success I’ve had if it wasn’t for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. My faith is a big part of my life, and our team prays before every practice and match.”

When the dust settled, Camden Catholic left Pope John not just unbeaten, but validated. Wins over Paramus Catholic, Don Bosco Prep, and Pope John in one day is no small feat, especially in January. With momentum building and key pieces firing on all cylinders, the Irish look every bit like a team built for another deep run as the season continues.